Method of imbedding hairs for wigs



Dec. 22,- 1964 L. L. CRAMER 3,162,203

METHOD OF IMBEDDING HAIRS FOR WIGS Filed Dec. 17, 1962 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII)!!! INVENTOR United States Patent Ofiiice 3,162,203 Patented Dec. 22., 1964 This invention relates to the art of wig making and more particularly to an improved method of imbedding hairs in a net substratum and adhesively securing said hairs.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of fabricating a hair-piece, the method involving a relatively simple procedure which requires comparatively simple apparatus, which can be performed in a relatively short time and which greatly reduces the amount of labor and precision required in fabricating a hair-piece.

A further object of the invention is to provide an im proved method of fabricating a hair-piece which does not involve costly and tedious hand weaving processes, which enables a hair piece of required size and shape to be quickly and efficiently produced, which provides a hairpieoe of satisfactory durability and which considerably reduces the cost of fabricating a hair-piece.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of fabricating a hair-piece, said method being easy to perform, requiring a relatively low level of skill, enabling a hair-piece of required shape and size to be quickly, efiiciently and accurately produced without requiring knots or protuberances and providing for the inclusion of synthetic fibers as well as natural hair in the wig.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of fabricating a hair-piece, which utilizes an applicator in which a plurality of hairs can be held and subsequently embedded in a suitable adhesively coated net in any desired location in the net, the fibers becoming adhesively secured, eliminating the need for weaving or tying the fibers in place, as has been heretofore required in this art.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of fabricating a hair-piece, which utilizes certain shapes of planted areas which are flat when the hairs are embedded but which become cup shaped when said planted areas are sewn together, resulting in a wig that will fit a head.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly from the top, of the applicator in closed position, holding a plurality of hairs, 11 is a vertical support arm, 12 is the spring loaded hinge, 13 is the release clamp, 14 is the top horizontal arm, 15 is the bottom horizontal arm, 16 is one of a row of closely spaced comb-like teeth, 17 is random length hair held between the two horizontal arms, 18 designates the area which will remain as flush cut hair ends after trimming along the imaginary dotted line shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view partly in cross section of the unloaded applicator in closed position, additionally showing 19 and 20, which are napped surface cloth linings inside the horizontal arms.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view showing a section of the horizontal arms in closed position and the comb-like teeth attached thereto, for purposes of detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, showing the applicator opened and not loaded.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a large wooden hoop in the manner'of an embroidery hoop within which is contained a net material, 21 is the hoop, 22 is the netting, 23, 24, 25 designate outlines that are penciled on the netting to mark off the confines of the planting areas, 26 is the interior of the planting area which is adhesively coated and the hairs are planted therein.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a wig that is derived from sewing the sections 23, 24, 25, together, the dark stitch lines being emboldened for purposes of the drawing, although in reality they are hidden by the attached hair.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the under surface of the sewn together sections creating the wig and showing the smooth plastic underliner 27 sewn into the under surface thereof.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail it will be seen that the applicator is prepared in the open position, a plurality of hairs 17 are inserted between the arms 14, 15, and caused to lie uniformly between the teeth 16. The arms are closed so that the mapped surfaces 19, 20 grip the hairs in uniform alignment, the clamp 13 then being locked. The hairs are then cut close and flush as in 18. The hoop 21 is then clamped around the netting 22, which is then held taut. The net is of a nylon material similar to mosquito netting. Planting areas 23, 24, 25 are penciled in and the area within coated with a slow drying adhesive 26. The loaded applicator is then brought into play so that the flush cut tips of hair 18, contact the adhesive and under slight pressure penetrate through the net. The clamp 13 is released, the spring 12 causes the arms 14, 15 to release their grip, leaving the hairs imbedded in the net. This process is repeated until the entire planting area is covered with imbedded hair. After a suitable drying period the planted areas are cut away from the rest of the net, leaving a slight border for machine stitching. The parts are sewn together to create a cup shaped wig that will fit a head as shown in FIG. 6. Other patterns of outlines may also be used to create the cup shape simply causing the seams to be in other positions, however the shape designated is preferred. Now follows the step of finishing the wig, consisting of turning under the front hair-line edge and sewing in an underliner to present a smooth inner surface to the wearer.

The adhesive used must be of special quality, like that of a water based latex that is slow drying and not prone to quick skinning. Types are commercially available that will either be drycleanable or washable according to the preferred cleansing process.

While certain specific embodiments of a method of fabricating a hair-piece have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a method of fabricating a hair-piece, the steps of uniformly placing a plurality of hairs in a holder having numerous closely set comb-like teeth to maintain proper positioning of said hairs, and locking the holder to secure the hairs from changing position, and then cutting the hairs short to the applicator and fiush to each other, then preparing a netting held tight in an embroidery type hoop by outlining the areas of netting to be implanted to a specific size and shape, applying an adhesive to said areas, then using the holder prepared with flush cut hair ends, whereby said hair ends are gently'inserted to P6116,

sewing edge, sewing the mating surfaces to each other with an inside seam, thus trnsforming the flat surfaces to a cup-shaped or headforrnedhair-pieee.

2; A 'method'aeeording; to claim 1 wherein the hairpiejceis finished by turning under the front hair line edge and sewing in an underliner to present a smooth inner surfac e to the weerer 7 References Cited by the Examiner 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,371,804 3/21 Nowell 46-172 2,405,791 8/46, Lamoureux 46-172 2,907,334 10/59 Le Mole 132-5 3,046,999 7/62v Lint 13254 3,077,891 2/63 Lane 132-5 RICHARD A. GAUDEI Primary Examine'n 

1. IN A METHOD OF FABRICATING A HAIR-PIECE, THE STEPS OF UNIFORMLY PLACING A PLURALITY OF HAIRS IN A HOLDER HAVING NUMEROUS CLOSELY SET COMB-LIKE TEETH TO MAINTAIN PROPER POSITIONING OF SAID HAIRS, AND LOCKING THE HOLDER TO SECURE THE HAIRS FROM CHANGING POSITION, AND THEN CUTTING THE HAIRS SHORT TO THE APPLICATOR AND FLUSH TO EACH OTHER, THEN PREPARING A NETTING HELD TIGHT IN AN EMBROIDERY TYPE HOOP BY OUTLINING THE AREAS OF NETTING TO BE IMPLANTED TO A SPECIFIC SIZE AND SHAPE, APPLYING AN ADHESIVE TO SAID AREAS, THEN USING THE HOLDER PREPARED WITH FLUSH CUT HAIR ENDS, WHEREBY SAID HAIR ENDS ARE GENTLY INSERTED TO PENETRATE THE NETTING, THEN RELEASING THE HOLDER FROM THE INSERTED HAIRS, LEAVING THEM ADHESIVELY SECURED TO SAID NETTING, REPEATING THE ABOVE IMBEDDING STEPS UNTIL THE OUTLINE AREAS ARE FILLED WITH IMBEDDED HAIRS, THEN AFTER A SUITABLE DRYING PERIOD, CUTTING THE DRIED HAIRCOATED AREAS OF NETTING OUT OF THE HOOP, LEAVING A SUITABLE SEWING EDGE, SEWING THE MATING SURFACES TO EACH OTHER WITH AN INSIDE SEAM, THUS TRANSFORMING THE FLAT SURFACES TO A CUP-SHAPED OR HEADFORMED HAIR-PIECE. 